April 3, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.8.W. 



275 



American beetle, did considerable damage to the red oak floors of Michigan 

 College, while Lyctus opaculus bores into the stems and canes of the grape 

 vines in some parts of the United States. 



Though our powder-post beetle {Lyctus brunneus) was described at a very 

 early date from specimens in England, and again under the synonyms of 

 L. eobydioides Dejeen, and L. glycyrrhizce Cheverolet, from specimens in 

 France, and from Woodlark Island by Montrozier under the name of Lyctus 

 rugulosus, it was not until 1876 that it was recorded and identified from 

 Australia. In a note in the Entomologist's Monthly Magaziiie of that year, 



Braconid parasite of the Powder-post Beetle. 



J. W. Douglas contributed a note as follows : " In the year 1862, on a small 



log of wood with the bark on, imported into the London Docks from Swan 



River as a sample, I found five beetles of a species which has recently been 



identified as Lyctus hrunneus by Dr. Sharp, who informs me that he has 



specimens of it from New Zealand, Britain and France, and it is recorded 



from Woodlark Island." 



This beetle probably has a very wide range over the East, and has been 



casually introduced in most of these outside countries in timber or furniture. 



It may not even be a native of Australia, though it is well established here 



at the present time. It may be described as follows : — 



General colour reddish-brown, sometimes dark brown ; geneiul form elongate, with 

 the dirisions between the head, thorax, and body well defined. Head not as broad as 

 the thorax; jaws stout, turned down; eyes large, rounded, and projecting from the 



